26 March 2016

Dooley eyes contract extension

INCHEON—If he had it his way, coach Thomas Dooley would like to keep his post as Philippine Azkals coach.
The German-American tactician told the Inquirer that his contract with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will expire after the North Korea game on Tuesday. An extension has yet to be concretely discussed.
“I don’t want to be anywhere else than to work with the guys and be part of something we are building for Philippine football,” said Dooley in a brief chat during the team’s stopover at Incheon International Airport. “But that is not my decision to make.”

Dooley took the Azkals job in February 2014 after impressing manager Dan Palami and PFF general secretary Ed Gastanes in an interview. It was his first national team coaching stint after a storied professional and international career in the German league as well as with the US.
Among the highlights of Dooley’s stint are a runner-up finish in the AFC Challenge Cup and a semifinal appearance in the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2014. Cedelf P. Tupas